OBJECTIVES
- Student Centered: Students will able to search for information and resources on their own (and with their group members) to complete the assignments. They will use the infromation they discover to create projects relating to the city they have researched.
- Learning and Doing: Students will be able to create a budget using Excel, blog entries using blogger.com, a podcast using a Flipcam, and a wikispace to publish onine.
- Using Info: Similar to the post above, students will use the information that they find on their own to create a wiki page about their city, to blog about a hypothetical trip there, and to produce a video podcast about the city. They will learn how to avoid plagarism, as well as how to take precautions against the dangers associated with online journaling and publishing.
- Facilitator: None of the information presented with the project will involve Direct Instruction. Instead, I will act as a guide to help small groups as they need my assistance, finding research, using the technology, or thinking of ideas.
- Flexible Grouping: Students will be able to work cooperatively in groups of four. They will each choose one partner, and then I will partner up the partners to form small groups for the project work.
- Interdisciplinary: While completing the activities for the travel project, students will be able to incorporate skills from Math class as they create a budget, from Geography as they learn about the cultures represented in their city, and from Science as they research weather patterns for their locations.
- Collaboration: Students will be able to work in groups of four to complete all the assignments relating to the travel project. This will require them to practice effective communication skills, as well as designate specific roles within the group to carry out tasks.
- Performance Based: Students will use skills they have gained throughout the course to create blog entries, podcasts, and wikispaces.
- Multiple Sources of Information: Students will be able to use online resources to gather information, such as professional websites, blogs, magazine articles, weather sites, etc. All the information will be used to complete the different assignments required of the project.
- Incorporating Technology: Students will use technology daily. They will be required to search the Internet for information. They will use www.blogger.com as part of their project. They will type information in Word and store it using Google Docs so that other group members can collaborate with it. They will use flipcams to create video podcasts.
- Students Acting As Professionals: Students will be able to assume the role of "travel reporter". They will take on all responsibilities associated with such as position, including researching, taking notes, and producing a product relating to the city. They will work cooperatively in a setting that will require them to multi-task to solve a real world problem.
- Students will utilize effective communication skills when they present the wiki project to the class.